Meaning & use
hijinks ensue
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phraseinformalhumorous
Used to say that after a plan or event, lively and chaotic fun or trouble follows.
Grammar: Comes after a description of what happens first; it is not used with subjects or objects.
Patterns
- X happens, and hijinks ensue
- hijinks ensue when ...
They decided to surprise their roommate with a fake spider, and hijinks ensue.
The video shows a quiet office prank, then hijinks ensue.
If you leave three puppies alone in a room, hijinks ensue.
phrasefixed phraseinformalhumorous
Used on the internet to comment that a situation will lead to amusing chaos.
Grammar: Often written as a standalone comment or caption after a post describing a plan.
Patterns
- hijinks ensue (as a comment)
Someone posts: 'I'm going to teach my cat to skateboard.' Comment: 'Hijinks ensue.'
When the boss announced a team-building trust fall, everyone replied, 'Hijinks ensue.'
Common combinations
- and hijinks ensue
- He tried to fix the printer with a paperclip, and hijinks ensue.
- hijinks ensue when
- Hijinks ensue when you mix caffeine and a group project.
- then hijinks ensue
- They planned a quiet picnic, then hijinks ensue.
Synonyms and how they differ
- chaos follows
- More neutral and less playful; it can describe serious disorder, while 'hijinks ensue' suggests lighthearted mischief.
- mischief follows
- Focuses on naughty behavior rather than chaotic fun, and is slightly more old-fashioned.
Commonly confused: hijinks ensue or hijinks?
hijinks ensue vs hijinks
'Hijinks' alone means lively, mischievous fun. 'Hijinks ensue' is a set phrase meaning that such fun happens next.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'hijinks ensue' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Hijinks ensue' is a fixed phrase that follows a description of a plan or event and means chaotic fun happens next. Option B fits this pattern. Option An is wrong because a serious meeting does not lead to playful chaos. Option C treats it as a noun, and option D uses it as a verb, both of which are incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hijinks ensue”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.